SESTO SAN GIOVANNI - Inter defeated Cosenza 2-0 in their Primavera TIM Cup quarter-final clash. Two magnificent goals won it for the Nerazzurri, with Merola’s bicycle kick and Grassini’s volleyed finish proving to be the difference. Inter are now through to the semi-finals of the competition and will play the winners of the match between Fiorentina and Juventus.
The first goal attempt of the match came from the away side, but Licciardello’s shot was too weak to cause Dekic any problems. In the 9th minute, Adorante found Mulattieri deep in Cosenza’s half, but the no.11’s strike was saved down low by Quintiero. After 20 minutes, Adorante fired over after sloppy play at the back by the team from Calabria. Five minutes later, Inter found the opening goal, with Merola finishing off Adorante’s flick-on with a fantastic bicycle kick following Pompetti’s free kick. Shortly after the half-hour mark, it was 2-0 to the Nerazzurri: Grassini met Pompetti’s corner on the volley and fired home for another fantastic Inter goal. Six minutes before the break, Mascari went close with a threatening header as Cosenza looked for a way back into the match. On the stroke of half-time, Mascari was denied by Vladan Dekic as the away side looked to reduce the arrears.
Cosenza began the second half with a different attitude: in the 54th minute, Mascari earned his side a penalty but couldn’t convert the resulting spot kick as Dekic produced his third penalty save in a row following previous stops against Atalanta and Palermo. This shook Inter into life, with the Nerazzurri twice going close through Davide Merola. In the 67th minute, substitute Eddie Salcedo had an effort with his right foot, but Quintiero kept it out. Madonna’s side kept pushing as they looked for the third goal that would have put the game beyond doubt, but Gavioli squandered another chance five minutes before the final whistle. It thus remained 2-0 as the Nerazzurri secured their place in the semi-finals of the competition!
INTER 2-0 COSENZA
Goalscorers: 25' Merola, 35' Grassini
INTER: 1 Dekic; 2 Grassini, 4 Nolan, 6 Ntube, 3 Colombini; 7 Burgio, 5 Pompetti (46’ Demirovic 16), 8 Roric (86’ Gianelli 17); 10 Merola (65’ Gavioli 20), 9 Adorante (58’ Salcedo 22), 11 Mulattieri (46’ Persyn 18).
Substitutes: 12 Pozzer, 21 Stankovic, 13 Zappa, 14 Pirola, 15 Serpe, 19 Schirò, 23 Esposito
Coach: Armando Madonna
COSENZA: 1 Quintiero; 2 Santangelo, 3 Gagliardi, 4 Paglia (65' Nicoletti 13), 5 Moretti, 6 Salines, 7 Caiazzo, 8 Sernia, 9 Mascari, 10 Sueva (86' Peguiron 20), 11 Licciardello (86' Militano 18).
Substitutes: 12 Sordini, 14 Di Salvo, 15 Tripoli, 16 Cardomone, 17 Misuri, 19 Giorgiò, 21 Ferrigno, 22 Guidoni, 23 Antoniotti
Coach: Stefano De Angelis
Bookings: Caiazzo (28'), Persyn (53')
Added time: 1' - 4'
Referee: Matteo Gualtieri
Assistants: Pizzi and Carrelli
